Ambassadors, officials and experts from 14 countries, including most of China's neighboring countries, attend an international conference on boundary cooperation. Photo: Liu Xin/GT

 
China on Tuesday held an international conference on boundary cooperation, the first of its kind, inviting representatives of 14 countries, including most of China's neighboring countries and other Asian countries to Beijing to discuss boundary cooperation.

Ambassadors, officials and scholars from neighboring countries and other Asian nations attended the Tuesday conference, themed "Border of Friendship, Belts of Cooperation."

China's land boundary lines total 22,000 kilometers and it shares borders with 14 countries. Upholding the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, China has settled the boundary line with 12 neighboring countries by peaceful negotiations under the basis of mutual respect and equal consultation, Luo Zhaohui, Vice Minister of Foreign Ministry, said during the inaugural session. 

China has sought boundary management and cooperation with neighboring countries and signed border ports management with 11 countries. China has officially opened 74 border ports and set 17 nation-level economic cooperation zones in border areas, according to a release from the Department of Boundary and Ocean Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 

China has also signed agreements with 10 neighbors on boundary management, establishing legal systems on border cooperation, conducting annual joint patrols and jointly fighting terrorism and cross-border crimes, said Luo.

Luo said China is working with India and Bhutan, the two neighboring countries which have yet to draw fixed borderlines with China. All countries are taking active moves, including maintaining peace and development in border areas, he said. 

H.E.U Myo Thant Pe, Ambassador of Myanmar to China, said at the inaugural session that China and Myanmar successfully settled the boundary via peaceful and friendly negotiations, which helped boost bilateral ties. In border areas, the populations have increased and the economies are booming. China and Myanmar will conduct joint border patrols next year, the ambassador said. 

He noted that under the Belt and Road Initiative, the two countries are working on the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor, linking China's Yunnan Province with Mandalay in central Myanmar and Yangon and Kyaukpyu economic zone.